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🇶🇦 Qatar: Israel bombs Doha

🇶🇦 Qatar: Israel bombs Doha

One U.S. ally bombs another.

Imran Khan
September 13, 2025

Analysing how language builds trust and enables power.

Hi Signposter. I know I said this week I would be discussing my most favourite speech ever in the fifth installment of ‘Texts That Changed The World’ but we’re taking a brief pause to discuss something that happened earlier this week.

Israel bombed Doha, specifically targeting leaders and negotiators from Hamas who have been based in the Qatari-capital. Qatar has long punched above it's weight diplomatically across the political spectrum; it is host to the largest U.S. military base in the region while also providing diplomatic bases for extremist organisations such as Al Qaeda and Hamas. The state’s role as negotiator-in-chief has been amplified in the current Israel-Hamas war, but Qatar also played a key role in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The nation is also the home of Al Jazeera (literally, The Island).

The peninsula is also one of the richest countries in the region (like Israel), and as of 2024 a designated Major non-NATO Ally of the United States (like Israel). How the three countries officially reacted to the bombing, and the language used to communicate that, is the focus of this week’s Signpost.

CONTEXT

1️⃣ What was happening?

Qatar has been hosting senior Hamas leadership since 2012, when Hamas relocated their base from Syria due to the Syrian Civil War (2011 - 2024). This was, according to Qatari officials, a request made by the U.S. government to accommodate indirect communication with Hamas, similar to the arrangement that Qatar had with Al Qaeda.

Since the attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7th October 2023, Israel has publicly committed to several objectives, including killing all Hamas leadership. As part of that declaration, Israel has conducted military attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Gaza, and the West Bank. On 9th September, Qatar was added to the list.

Qatar has played a lead negotiator role in the Israel-Hamas war since the beginning, and also has a functional relationship with Israel with regards to how it operates in Gaza. Qatar is also a key non-NATO ally of the United States, gaining that status in 2024 under president Joe Biden. Israel is also a major non-NATO ally, having gained that designation in 1987 under president Ronald Reagan.

As per the 2020 Abraham Accords, Israel now has normalised relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in the region, but not Qatar.

2️⃣ What was written, and to whom?

In this issue of Signpost, I’ll analyse the official statements released by all three countries: Qatar, Israel, and the United States, and analyse how the language used was determined to build trust (with whom) and enable power (over whom).

🇶🇦 QATAR — ‘no effort will be spared’

Here is the entire text of the Qatari statement, verbatim from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with specific words and phrases highlighted for semiotic analysis below:

The State of Qatar strongly condemns the reckless statements made by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding Qatar’s hosting of the Hamas office, and the shameful attempt therein to justify the cowardly attack that targeted Qatari territory, as well as the explicit threats of future violations of state sovereignty.

Netanyahu is fully aware that the hosting of the Hamas office took place within the framework of Qatar’s mediation efforts requested by the United States and Israel. He is also fully aware of the office’s role in facilitating numerous exchanges and ceasefires, which have been widely acknowledged and appreciated by the international community and have brought relief to Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages in desperate need of basic humanitarian relief from the ruthlessness that has ensued since October 7th.

The negotiations were always held in an official and transparent manner, with international support and in the presence of U.S. and Israeli delegations. Netanyahu’s insinuation that Qatar secretly harbored the Hamas delegation is a desperate attempt to justify a crime condemned by the entire world.

The false comparison to the pursuit of al-Qaeda after the terrorist attacks is a new, miserable justification for its treacherous practices. There was no international mediation involving an al-Qaeda negotiating delegation, with which the United States could engage with international support, to bring peace to the region at the time.

Such statements are hardly surprising coming from an individual who relies on extremist rhetoric to win elections and is wanted for international justice, facing mounting sanctions on a daily basis—factors that only deepen his isolation on the global stage.

On the other hand, the international solidarity shown with Qatar underscores that such reckless threats directed at sovereign states are categorically rejected the world over.

Despite his attempts at discrediting its credibility and efforts, the State of Qatar continues to act as a trusted and impartial international partner to establish security and stability in the region and beyond and will take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and territory. No effort will be spared in confronting with resolve any attempts to undermine its standing and role. We will work with our partners to ensure Netanyahu is held accountable and that his reckless and irresponsible actions are brought to an end.

Qatar’s unwavering commitment to international law and the Charter of the United Nations is unequivocal. We call on the international community to shoulder its responsibility by rejecting Netanyahu’s Islamophobic and inciteful rhetoric and putting an end to political distortions that undermine mediation efforts and obstruct the pursuit of peace.

ANALYSING THE TEXT

Words / Phrases	What it Says	What it Means
reckless statements / shameful attempt / cowardly attack / explicit threats	Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has verbalised and enacted a morally unjustified attack	Israel has crossed a red line with Qatar
fully aware / requested by the United States and Israel / false comparison	Qatar has not conducted any operations in hiding or in secret	just because Qatar hosts Hamas does not mean Qatar is Hamas. Do not equate the two.
widely acknowledged and appreciated by the international community / international solidarity	supported by the world	Israel will not be able to garner international sympathy for this incident
extremist rhetoric to win elections	using violent language to acquire power	Qatari government operates more morally
trusted and impartial	Qatar is a responsible member of the international community	Israel is isolating itself diplomatically and cannot justify this attack
No effort will be spared	Qatar will ensure that no efforts or solutions are off the table	Qatar reserves the right to respond with force, both militarily and diplomatically
work with our partners	Qatar will work with the international community	Qatar will work closely with the United States

IMPLICATIONS

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 TRUST & POWER 👑

Qatar is clearly angry and has made it’s anger known. A reading of the text tells us that Qatar does not appreciate its role as mediator being turned into belligerent, and the statement reiterates this several times. Most tellingly, there is a clear message being sent to Netanyahu specifically.

The Qatari statement followed a statement by Netanyahu equating Israel’s bombing of Doha to the American attacks on Afghanistan and Pakistan post the September 11th 2001 attacks. Qatar immediately dismissed this comparison reiterating it’s own position, crucially it’s position of strength with the United States.

This statement does two things: first, it reminds Qatari citizens of Qatar’s moral and diplomatic leadership in the region and the world. Second, it reiterates to Israel and the United States that Qatar is a rich, well connected sovereign state.

🇮🇱 ISRAEL — ‘full responsibility’

Here is the entire text of the Israeli statement, verbatim from the official website of the Prime Minister’s Office, with specific words and phrases highlighted for semiotic analysis below:

Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation.

Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.

ANALYSING THE TEXT

Words / Phrases	What it Says	What it Means
action	a vague word of doing	bombing
top terrorist chieftains of Hamas	the upper leadership of a terrorist organisation	the upper leadership of a terrorist organisation inside Qatar
wholly independent Israeli operation / Israel takes full responsibility	Israel did this	Israel did this. So what?

IMPLICATIONS

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 TRUST & POWER 👑

Israel’s, or rather Netanyahu’s short, sharp statement is defiant in it’s brevity. It does not even overtly describe what has happened. The statement uses vague language to reiterate a sense of diplomatic unassailability and moral righteousness that Israel believes it enjoys despite actively bombing a sovereign nation that it does not have an open conflict with. The audience for this statement is both supporters at home (showcasing Israel’s abilities and Netanyahu’s undiminished efforts to kill all Hamas leadership wherever they may be) and abroad (for the same reasons).

There is another interpretation here; the clarification of Netanyahu’s responsibility could also be pressure from the U.S. to distance itself publicly from this attack. Considering that this bombing occured between two major U.S. allies, and on the soil of a major U.S. military base, we can see this reality reflected in the U.S. statement next.

🇺🇸 United States — ‘does not advance Israel or America’s goals’

Here is the entire text of the U.S. statement, verbatim from the official Truth Social account of president Donald Trump, with specific words and phrases highlighted for semiotic analysis below:

This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar. This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal. I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack. I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW! I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE. I also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, and thanked them for their support and friendship to our Country. I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil. I have directed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to finalize the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

ANALYSING THE TEXT

Words / Phrases	What it Says	What it Means
very unfortunately	sadly	escalated an issue that I would’ve preferred not escalating
it was not a decision made by me / Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar	not sanctioned by the Trump administration	I have no responsibility here
does not advance Israel or America’s goals	does not progress any goals that both Israel and America want to accomplish	was the wrong thing to do and shouldn’t have happened
eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal	let us not lose sight of who the real enemy is	this is my way of helping to mitigate the political and diplomatic risk that Netanyahu and Israel now face within the region and worldwide
which he did	my special envoy accomplished his task	I did what I could to stop the attack, don’t blame me
feel very badly about the location of the attack	it is unfortunate that the attack happened in Qatar	I want to be clear to Israeli allies that what I am upset about is the location of the attack, not the attack itself
The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace	Israel is working towards peace	this is another attempt of mine to politically rehabilitate Netanyahu after this attack
serve as an opportunity for PEACE	we must use this incident to work harder towards peace	I will do my best to portray this incident as a win rather than a setback to the peace process
such a thing will not happen again on their soil	Qatar is a key ally and a good friend of the U.S.	here is my reassurance to all allies and friendly nations of the U.S. that being an ally of the U.S. still serves a purpose

IMPLICATIONS

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 TRUST & POWER 👑

Trump’s statement shows the complexity of his challenge: balancing unwavering support for Netanyahu and Israel while still ensuring the Qataris don’t feel cheated by this. Part of this is because Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region, which precipitates a close military relationship between both nations. Coupled with this, on a recent trip to Doha earlier this year, Trump received an “unconditional gift” from the Qataris in the form of a Boeing 747 for him to upgrade his Air Force One. Trump and his delegation were also celebrated and promised hundreds of billions of dollars of investment over the next few years.

Qatar is now a critical economic partner for Trump’s overt ‘America First’ policy. Very few countries have those kinds of resources to offer Trump, and they are all Qatar’s neighbours. Despite this, U.S. relations with Israel go back decades and is very close. Which is why the statement is worded to reiterate U.S. support of Israel, U.S. partnership with Qatar, and to remind everyone that Trump really wants this war to end.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Or would you write something else? Let me know.

NEXT WEEK ON SIGNPOST

Next week, we’re back on schedule to do another issue of Texts That Shaped The World and discuss the launch of the Sony PlayStation with the world’s shortest keynote.

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